Air Conditioning Bearing

GOOD EYE.. That AC unit does look a little saggy in the tail end. Are you speaking of the 2 groove alternator pulley? Thats pretty standard on the AC equipped cars. ws

 

no i mean the a/c pulley
it looks like there is another groove there, but maybe its just a line of rust?

 

but there is a lot of rust on some parts of the belt
check these pics with the engine running




are you sure the belts are new?
power steering belt is looking the same with the engine running: about 35% is covered with rust

also looks like the a/c belt is worn at the side, maybe because of the position of the a/c compressor?

 

Remove the AC belt and try . Then remove the alt belt and try . Those belts are FAR from new . And AC belt is rust covered . Possible broken AC lower mount . Take a look at it .

 

hard to tell because of the quality of the video
but at the arrow, it looks like the belt is already worn

 

Those belts look too thin for your pulleys, are you sure you're using the correct belts on your engine?

 

I wasnt sure if these were before or after shots from Adam. These pics look like the belts are plum wore out. Even the side of the AC pulley looks shined up from poor alignment. I still say that screeching is from the clutch. Thats just what mine sounded like. Hmmm... The other "rusty/pulley groove" is the free wheeling pulley hub.

Adam: you need to turn the AC on then make a video. Take the air cleaner off and work the throttle to make it squeal. It really looks like the clutch is not engaging or if it is, its slipping due to a seized compressor. Cant quite tell without knowing the control position for sure. If those belts are new, did they come from Rot Auto?? LOL... ws

 

It appeared to start squealing when he touched the steering wheel. A loose P/S pump belt???

 

Hey guys,
Thanks so much as always for your input. I removed the AC belt and the squealing was still there. On closer inspection it seems that the alternator was the culprit. I thought the belt looked a little loose and the squealing was still definitely coming from the left side. I loosened the alternator and used a pry bar to move it over. I tightened it and used a belt gauge. It is now 75lbs, so much closer to the workshop manual spec.

The belts are definitely new. The workshop fitted them, gave me the old ones back and I saw them come out of the order box. I have attached some closer pictures. The mark on the power steering pump belt is the anti squeal spray we tried. Sorry they're a bit dark, it's 9pm here.

There is no secondary groove on the AC, it was just a trick of the video. Pictures show it better.

 

so, the problem is long gone now?

 

Seems to be. She started and I drove her out for about 20 minutes. Stopped and walked around the park, started and drove for another 20 minutes, not a peep.

 

Make sure that all of the belts are adjusted properly. I had a 1986 Cutlass Ciera that the alternator belt would squeal when the ac was used unless the belt was adjusted very tight. Your belts look too narrow. Maybe the wrong belts?

 

I let the workshop pick the belts, so they should be correct. They also fit in the grooves nicely.

 

I use a squirt bottle of water to squirt on the belts, I wouldn't put my hands anywhere near the spinning fan or rotating belts.